The young boy's name is Lute: a rash but passionate fellow
who aims to be the world's top Monster Rider.
While on his journey, he encounters the injured girl Avinia.
Soon after he brings her to this hot springs inn,
a mysterious something creeps near...
Don't worry, Lute. Navirou's got your back!
You sure do.
Huh?
It's here!
Evenin'.
Gah!
Wh--
Who are you?!
"Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON"
"Episode 17: Meet the Riddlemaster"
You must be the innkeeper... right, mister?
This girl's been injured. Won't you let us stay here a while?
Ya gotta solve my riddle.
Huh?
Solve my riddle an' I'll let y'all stick aroun'.
Really? Okay, if that's the deal, I'm in!
Okay, here goes...
I got pointy ears and a big ol' belly. Who am I?
Pointy ears?
A big ol' belly?
Well, now...
Let's see...
Welp. Time's up.
What?!
You can give us more time than that!
Um... could it be...
...you, mister?
Eh?
Pointy ears...
A big ol' belly...
It's less a riddle and more say-what-you-see.
Yup. The right answer is me.
Huh?
What kind of answer is that?!
This is my home. I'm the Riddlemaster, and boy, do I love me some riddlin'.
I apologize for the intrusion. We'll pay for our stay.
Ain't no need.
Yesss! I knew it! Your heart's as big as your belly, mister!
Yep, yep, yep! You might be a little odd, but you're a good guy!
You two gotta pay.
What?!
Why?
Y'all couldn't solve my riddle.
Well, yeah, but...
I'll let y'all stay tonight.
But come tomorrow, y'all are gonna be workin'.
Aw, man...
I sure slept well!
Cheval! Morning!
Lilia! Morning.
What are you doing?
Oh, just...
I woke up early, so I was checking the map.
Oh, okay.
So Lute and Navi never did come back, huh?
No.
Honestly, where could they have gone?
We can't just camp out here forever...
You're right. Today we'll move on.
Yeah.
We're headed for the same place.
Knowing Lute, he might even have made it to Gildegaran before us.
That's true!
Let's wake Hyoro and Mille and we'll be off.
Yep!
Hey! Y'all wake on up, now!
How did we get into this mess?
You couldn't solve his riddle, that's how!
No, you couldn't solve his riddle!
It's your fault!
Your fault!
Once you're done cleanin' the bath,
there's the hallway, the front door, the guestrooms, an' the toilet.
What? All that?!
Well, shore.
Y'all barge into my inn an' cain't even solve my riddle!
Argh! That jerk of a Riddlemaster!
Navirou's hungry, Lute.
So am I.
Then come to my room later.
Huh?
Is that you, Avinia?
Yes.
That Riddlemaster prepared a huge breakfast for me.
Why don't we eat it together?
Whoa! Thanks, Avinia!
Wow! It's started to snow!
Huh?
The ground feels kind of slippery.
Could it be frozen?
That's weird.
The road shouldn't be this frozen...
Did we take a wrong turn somewhere?
Let's all be careful not to slip and fall.
Especially you, Hyoro.
I'll be fine. I'm being--
Hyoro!
Are you all right?
You all right?
I'm fine.
Sorry about your fish, though.
Don't worry about that. It's my fault for leaving the bucket there.
And who might you be?
I'm a Hunter.
A Hunter!
What's a Hunter doing fishing out here?
My kids and I are catching Ancient Fish to use for my equipment.
Huh! You mean you can use fish for that?
Nice to see a dad fishing with his kids!
Thanks.
But this is a dangerous area, with Lagombi about.
Lagombi?
If you'd like, I can take you somewhere safer.
Really? You'd do that?
Sure!
Let's get going.
Okay!
Mmm! These riceballs are the best!
Yeah! It's all so tasty!
Hey, Avinia smiled!
Yeah. It's the first time I ever saw her do that!
Th-That's not... true...
Hey. We got us some guests.
Coming!
Here you are.
Much obliged.
Thank you.
Wow, check out those injuries!
Hmm? Oh, yeah.
I got this one from a Seregios during a Quest at Heaven's Mount.
Huh?
Injuries are part and parcel of Questing.
This is from when I was pierced with a Gobul spike in the Flooded Forest.
I got this when I was pinned by a Nibelsnarf I fished up in the desert.
And this is from when I got burned by Gravios breath in the Volcano.
You've fought all those different monsters?
Well, you know, we Hunters slay what we're told to slay.
Our scars are our medals.
Huh...
You'll find tons of even more skilled Hunters in Gildegaran, though.
Gildegaran? I'm actually on my way there!
Forget about it, kid. You'll never make it.
Huh?
Why not?
You gotta make it through a Khezu cave to get there.
--Oh! --A Khezu?
You mean--?
You can't tell from its name,
but the Khezu's a frightful beast that'll have you quaking in your boots.
But I have to get to Gildegaran, no matter what!
Isn't there some other way?
Find the Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge.
The Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge?
If you ever run into trouble, seek the Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge.
I've never met him myself,
but I've heard he's young, tall, and handsome.
The kind of guy they call a "hunk"!
The Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge...
He's a young tall hunk!
Probably looks a lot like Navirou.
Huh? What's up, Avinia?
As it happens, I'm searching for that Wyverian, too.
Huh? You, too?
On a hunk hunt, eh?
If I can meet the Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge,
he might be able to reawaken Frostfang's lost powers.
His lost powers?
It was shock that made Frostfang lose the powers he was born with...
From fighting a monster afflicted with the Black Blight.
Huh? The Black Blight?
Yes.
My village was wiped out by Blighted monsters.
I want Frostfang to rediscover the powers he's lost.
And... I want our Kinship Attack back again.
So we can keep the Black Blight from doing any more damage.
Just like us, then.
Huh?
We left for the outside world to put a stop to the Black Blight.
And that's why I'm gonna be the world's best Rider, too!
The world's best Rider?
Looks like this is no time to be helping out around here!
Let's go look for that Wyverian right now!
Yeah! Time for some hunk-hunting!
Then I'll come, too.
Huh? But your injury...
It's fine. The hot spring made it a lot better.
Now let's go!
Yeah!
The coast is clear...
Now!
Where y'all goin'?
Mister! Sorry about this...
...but we've got to find the Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge, and fast!
If y'all plan on leavin', ya gotta solve my riddles.
Look, I just told you! We don't have time for your riddles!
And if'n I toldja I happen t' know this Wyverian o' yourn?
Oh!
You know him?
The tall Wyverian hunk?
Yup, shore do. Real nice upstandin' feller, too.
Really?! Please! Take us to him!
Then solve my riddles.
Ugh. Still?
What choice do we have, Lute? Let's do it.
Yeah. We've got to.
We'll whip right through 'em and get to that Wyverian!
Yeah! No punches pulled! Navirou always goes all-out!
And that... is a Navi-rule.
Ride On!
"Monster Hunter Stories RIDE ON"
Rathian!
You should be fine from here.
You'll be fine!
You've been a big help. Thank you so much.
We'll never, ever forget you!
There ought to be a hot springs inn up ahead.
You should stop there first if you're heading for Gildegaran.
Okay. Got it.
And if you do stop there... give this to the innkeeper.
What is it?
The innkeeper's an old friend of mine.
This'll help you out.
Thank you very much.
Congalala.
Mmm. 'Nother right answer.
That's 20 right answers in a row!
Right!
C'mon, mister, give it a rest!
Nuh-uh.
Oh, come on! This could go on forever at this rate!
Yeah!
Maybe you don't know where this Wyverian is after all!
That ain't so. I do so know.
Lies! You're just pretending to know so you can ask us more riddles!
Don't be that way...
Eh?
He's super bummed.
That big back of his looks awfully small.
It's... pitiful, somehow.
Don't be so down in the dumps, mister.
Then how's about solvin' one more o' my riddles?
Fine, mister.
And once we do, you'll take us to see this Wyverian, right?
Yup. Promise.
Now, this next one's a real head-scratcher!
Question 21:
The Wyverian from the Arctic Ridge cain't get enough o' me. What am I?
The Wyverian can't get enough of it?
I can't even guess.
Heck, these are hardly riddles anymore.
It's a tough 'un!
But y'all gotta figger it out, or y'all ain't goin' anywheres!
Urgh... Lute?
I knew y'all didn't know!
Dang it! And it's the last one, too!
Lute!
Oh! Cheval!
And the others!
Lute! Sheesh! You had us so worried!
Sorry about that!
But I'm really glad we met up!
Yeah!
Avinia, these are my friends.
Don't worry, they're all Riders.
I'm Avinia.
She's a Rider, too.
You are? Nice to meet you! I'm Lilia.
I'm Mille.
I'm Hyoro!
And I'm Cheval. Pleasure!
Same here.
I just knew we'd meet up again if we got separated.
I was sure of it!
Yeah, thanks to Navirou's guidance yet again.
Oh, right.
I was asked to give this to the innkeeper.
Sure. It's that guy over there.
Hey. Did y'all forget we were in the middle of a riddle?
Oh, yeah...
A riddle?
Er...
This is from a fisherman Hunter on the Arctic Ridge.
Th-Th-This is...
...the right answer: Hot Spring Dumplin's!
Hot Spring Dumplings?!
Any way you look at it, that's just moss!
Yum... so yummy!
Yup, nothin' beats Steamed Moss f'r a Hot Spring Dumplin'!
Come on, now. That's just something you can't get enough of!
Yeah, not the Wyverian hunk we're looking for!
The Wyverian's here.
Don't tell me--
The Wyverian y'all are lookin' for?
It's me!
What?!
B-But the Wyverian is tall!
And young!
And a hunk!
Looky here. Real firm young skin, on account o' the hot springs!
An' no matter how ya slice it, I'm a tall hunk, all right!
If you're the Wyverian, I have a favor to ask!
Please give my dear Frostfang to power to awaken!
Yup, I know all about it.
Bring yer Monstie here.
Let's get started!
Riddle me this: What's gonna awaken?
An' the answer is... this'n here!
What the--?!
Is this--?
The Barioth's special move:
Frost breath!
That oughta do it!
Frostfang!
Oh, thank goodness, Frostfang!
Thank you for everything, Mr. Wyverian, sir!
Ya gonna make me blush! "Riddlemaster" is fine by me.
See you later, Riddlemaster!
We'll hafta do more riddles sometime!
You can count on it!
Goodbye!
Bye!
Toodles!
So that's what happened?
You've had it rough, too, Avinia.
Yes... but Frostfang's got his powers back, thanks to all of you.
All thanks to Navirou's guidance.
No, it's thanks to that fisherman Hunter's Steamed Moss.
This is it... the Khezu's cave.
Ooh... that darn Khezu! Where are you?
Please let us make it out of here in one piece!
The Khezu can show up out of nowhere, so be careful.
Especially you, Hyoro.
I know! Sheesh!
Come on. It's just a drop of water.
I-I guess so.
Huh? It's kind of sticky.
There! There it is!
Up! Look up!
It's the Khezu!
Everybody run for it!
Avinia!
Get out of there now!
Ride On!
Barioth!
Avinia!
Whoa!
Frostfang!
Avinia!
Ground Cyclone!
So that's Frostfang's and Avinia's Kinship Attack!
You did it, Avinia!
Amazing!
Go on now, everyone.
Thanks!
What's next for you, Avinia?
We'll continue our journey.
Like you, we aim to stop the Black Blight in its tracks
and keep it from doing any more harm.
Then we'll see each other again for sure!
Yes!
Lute... everyone... thank you so much!
You bet!
Avinia, this isn't goodbye. This is "see you later"!
Right! Be well, all of you.
Thanks to you, too, Frostfang!
Whoa!
It's so nice and warm!
From winter to spring, just like that!
The cherry blossoms are in full bloom!
All right! Gildegaran's up ahead!
Yeah!
"Monstie Manual"
The Monstie Manual!
"Monstie Manual"
Navirou here will fill you in on some Monsties!
Get your Media Trigger smartphone app ready!
And you've got your egg with you, right?
Okay, time to form Kinship with your Monstie Egg!
And now, the moment of new life: Awaken!
"Monstie:"
Our Monstie this time is Khezu!
"Khezu"
"Type: Technical"
This monster attacks with the electricity it generates.
"Species: Flying Wyvern"
"Overall Length: 342.9 cm"
It uses its nose to sniff out prey even in dark caves!
"Overall Height: 129.2 cm"
"Leg Size: 42.5 cm"
Getting zapped while Riding On? Navirou says, "No thanks!"
What Monstie will hatch for us next week?
"Next Episode Preview"
Lute here!
We finally made it to the big city: Hunter central!
It's chock-full of Hunters and yummy stuff to eat!
This place is awesome!
"Welcome to Gildegaran"
Next time: "Welcome to Gildegaran!" Ride On!